denotes a gland that secretes its products through excretory ducts to the surface of an organ or tissue or into a vessel

sphincter

circular band of muscle fibers that constricts a passage or closes a natural opening of the body

or/o
stomato/o

mouth

gloss/o
lingu/o

tongue

bucc/o

cheek

cheil/o
labi/o

lip

dent/o
odonto/o

teeth

gingiv/o

gum(s)

sial/o

saliva, salivary gland

esophag/o

esophagus

pharyng/o

pharynx

gastr/o

stomach

pylor/o

pyloris

duoden/o

duodenum (first part of small intestine)

enter/o

intestine (usually small intestine)

jejun/o

jejunum (second part of the small intestine)

ile/o

ileum (third part of small intestine)

append/o
appendic/o

appendix

col/o
colon/o

colon

sigmoid/o

sigmoid colon

rect/o

rectum

proct/o

anus, rectum

an/o

anus

hepat/o

liver

pancreat/o

pancreas

cholangi/o

bile vessel

chol/e

bile, gall

cholecyst/o

gallbladder

choledoch/o

bile duct

-emesis

vomit

-iasis

abnormal condition (produced by something specified)

-megaly

enlargement

-orexia

appetite

-pepsia

digestion

-phagia

swallowing, eating

-prandial

meal

-rrhea

discharge, flow

dia-

through, across

peri-

around

sub-

under, below

anorexia

lack or loss of appetite, resulting in the inability to eat

appendicitis

inflammation of the appendix, usually due to obstruction or infection

ascites

abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen

borborygmus

rumbling or gurgling noises that are audible at a distance and caused by passage of gas through the liquid contents of the intestine

chachexia

physical wasting that includes loss of weight and muscle mass; commonly associated with AIDS and cancer

cholelithiasis

presence or formation of gallstones in the gallbladder or common bile duct

cirrhosis

scarring and dysfunction of the liver cause by chronic liver disease

colic

spasm in any hollow or tubular soft organ especially in the colon, accompanied by pain

crohn disease

chronic inflammation, usually of the ileum, but possibly affecting any portion of the intestinal tract; also called regional enteritis

deglutition

act of swallowing

dysentery

inflammation of the intestine, especially the colon, that may be caused by ingesting water or food containing chemical irritants, bacteria, protozoa, or parasites, which results in bloody diarrhea

dyspepsia

epigastric discomfort felt after eating; also called indigestion

dysphagia

inability or difficulty in swallowing; also called aphagia

eructation

producing gas from the stomach, usually with a characteristic sound; also called belching

fecalith

fecal concretion

flatus

gas in the GI tract; expelling of air from a body orifice, especially the anus

gastroesophageal reflux disease

backflow of gastric contents into the esophagus due to a malfunction of the sphincter muscle at the inferior portion of the esophagus

halitosis

offensive, or "bad," breath

hematemesis

vomiting of blood from bleeding in the stomach or esophagus

irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

symptom complex marked by abdominal pain and altered bowel function (typically constipation, diarrhea, or alternating constipation and diarrhea) for which no organic cause can be determined; also called spastic colon

malabsorption syndrome

symptom complex of the small intestine characterized by the impaired passage of nutrients, minerals, or fluids through intestinal villi into the blood or lymph

melena

passage of dark-colored, tarry stools, due to the presence of blood altered by intestinal juices

obesity
morbid obesity

excessive accumulation of fat that exceeds the body's skeletal and physical standards, usually an increase of 20 percent of more above ideal body weight

BMI of 40+ (about 100lbs over body ideal body weight)

obstipation

severe constipation; may be caused by an intestinal obstruction

oral leukoplakia

formation of white spots or patches on the mucous membrane of the tongue, lips, or cheek caused primarily by irritation

peristalsis

progressive, wavelike movement that occurs involuntarily in hollow tubes of the body, especially the GI tract

pyloric stenosis

stricture or narrowing of the pyloric sphinter (circular muscle of the pylorus) at the outlet of the stomach, causing an obstruction that blocks the flow of food into the small intestine

regurgitation

backward flowing, as in the return of solids or fluids to the mouth from the stomach

steatorrhea

passage of fat in large amounts in the feces due to failure to digest and absorb it

endoscopy

visual examination of a cavity or canal using a flexible fiberoptic instrument called an endoscope

upper GI
lower GI

endoscopy of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum

hepatitis panel

panel of blood tests that identify the specific virus-- hep A (HAV) hep B (HBV), or hep C (HCV)- causing hepatitis by testing serum using antibodies to each of these antigens

liver function tests (LFTs)

group of blood tests that evaluate liver injury, liver function, and conditions often associated with the biliary tract

serum bilirubin

measurement of the level of bilirubin in the blood

stool culture

test to identify microorganisms or parasites present in feces

stool guaiac

applying a substance called guaiac to a stool sample to detect presence of occult (hidden) blood in the feces; also called Hemoccult

barium enema (BE)

radiographic examination of the rectum and colon following enema administration of barium sulfate (contrast medium) into the rectum; also called lower GI series

barium swallow

radiographic examination of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine following oral administration of barium sulfate (contrast medium); also called esophagram and upper GI series

cholecystography

radiographic images taken of the gallbladder after administration of a contrast material containing iodine, usually in the form of a tablet

computed tomography (CT)

imaging technique achieved by rotating an xray emitter around the area to be scanned and measuring the intensity of transmitted rays from different angles

endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

endoscopic procedure that provides radiographic cisualization of the bile and pancreatic ducts to identify partial or total obstructions, as well as stones, cysts, and tumors

procedure that involves insertion of a nasogastric tube through the nose into the stomach to relieve gastic distention by removing gas, food, or gastric secretions; to instill medication, food, or fluids; or to obtain a specimen for laboratory analysis

anastomosis

surgical joining to 2 ducts, vessels, or bowel segments to allow flow from 1 to another

ileorectal anastomosis
intestinal "

surgical connection of the ileum and rectum after total colectomy, as is sometimes perfomed in the treatment of ulcerative colitis

surgical connection of 2 portions of the intestines; also called enteroenterostomy

bariatric surgery

group of procedures that treat morbid obesity, a condition which arises from severe accumulation of excess weight as fatty tissue, and the resultant health problems

vertical banded gastroplasty

upper stomach near the esophagus is stapled vertically to reduce it to a small pouch. A band is then inserted that restricts food consumption and delays its passage from the pouch, causing a feeling of fullness

roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RGB)

stomach is first stapled to decrease it to a small pouch. Next, the jejunum is shortened and connected to the small stomach pouch , causing the base of the duodenum leading from the nonfunctioning portion of the stomach to form a Y configuration. This decreased the pathway of food thru the intestine, thus reducing absorption of calories and fats

colostomy

creation of an opening of a portion of the colon through the abdominal wall to its outside surface in order surface in order to divert fecal flow to a colostomy bag

lithotripsy

procedure for crushing a stone and eliminating its fragments either surgically or using ultrasonic shock waves

polypectomy

excision of a polyp (small growth)

pyloromyotomy

incision of the longitudinal and circular muscles of the pyloris; used to treat hypertrophic pyloric stenosis

antacids

counteract or neutralize acidity, usually in the stomach

antidiarrheals

control loose stools and relieve diarrhea by absorbing excess water in the bowel or slowing peristalsis in the intestinal tract

antiemetics

control nausea and vomiting by blocking nerve impulses to the vomiting center of the brain